Six fires in 72 hours were started in Salinas. They’ve been springing up around the city, easily spreading thanks to the warm weather, and investigators believe, to people setting them.

Six fires in 72 hours were started in Salinas. They’ve been springing up around the city, easily spreading thanks to the warm weather, and investigators believe, to people setting them.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 11:38 PM PST Jan 17, 2014

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT TONIGHT. #WE BEGIN TONIGHTWITH A SERIES OF SMALLFIRES IN SALINAS.THEY'VE BEENSPRINGING UP AROUNDTHE CITY, EASILYSPREADING THANKS TOTHE WARM WEATHER..AND INVESTIGATORSBELIEVE, PEOPLE ARESETTING THEM.ACTION NEWSREPORTER BRITTANYNIELSEN IS LIVE IN OURSALINAS NEWSROOMWITH THE DETAILS. ###THERE HAVE BEENSIX SMALL FIRES IN 72HOURS, ALL BELIEVED TOHAVE BEENINTENTIONALLY SET INSALINAS. WORSE,BECAUSE OF THE DRYCONDITIONS, MAKING ITEASY FOR FIRES TOSPREAD.4:00 it was obvious it wasintentional start FIRENUMBER SIX...theres nothing else totell us it would havebeen an accident 4:06THIS QUARTER ACREGRASS FIRE ON MONTEBELLA AVENUEPROMPTED FIREFIGHTERSTO FINISH OFF THE AREATHEMSELVES.we took the rest of thearea about another halfacre and burned off therest of the fuel 4:36 thisfuel isn't available forsomeone to light on fire,FIREFIGHTERS SAY WHENA FIRE IS PURPOSELY SETIN AN AREA LIKE THIS, ITCAN BECOME A PATTERN.WHICH IS WHAT'S BEENHAPPENING IN NATIVIDADCREEK PARK... WHERETHERE WERE THREEFIRES WEDNESDAY.POLICE ARE ANSWERINGFIRE CALLS ALONG WITHFIREFIGHTERS... TRYINGTO FIND WHO'S SPARKINGTHEM.CREWS ALSO BEAT DOWNA BLAZE IN HEAVY BRUSHFIRE OFF OFINDEPENDENCE MIDDAYFRIDAY... ALSO BELIEVEDTO BE SET ON PURPOSE.5:43 it was a deep seatedfire in a lot of brush,trees, first unit to arrivethere were leaves on fireraining into neighborhoodbecause the wind waspushing fire 5:55 HIGHSFRIDAY WERE IN THE80'S... AND FLAMESREACHED HIGHER THANIN A NORMAL JANUARY.6:37 the type of firebehavior we saw todayon this fire is the type offire behavior in dry grassthat we expect to see injuly aug sept, not themiddle of jan 6:44 ###THOSE DRY CONDITIONSARE WHAT PROMPTEDMONTEREY COUNTY FIRECHIEFS TO CHANGE THEIRWINTER FIRE RESPONSES... THEY WILL BESENDING MOREFIREFIGHTERS EARLIER INTHE INITIAL RESPONSE,TO KEEP THE FIRES FROMGETTING A JUMP START.NO ARRESTS HAVEBEEN MADE.INVESTIGATORSBELIEVE AT LEAST ONEOF THE PEOPLEINVOLVED MAY LIVE IN AHOMELESS ENCAMPMENTIN THE AREA. ###

Six arson fires started in Salinas

Six fires in 72 hours were started in Salinas. They’ve been springing up around the city, easily spreading thanks to the warm weather, and investigators believe, to people setting them.